***Official*** 3rd Test at the WACA

[Josh]

Shattered I'll miss the first 3 days of play due to work, work and club cricket respectively. Seems to be bulding to be a tense match. Might rely on both side's abilities to play a second innings. Obviously England struggle with that (Adelaide).

 

[The Sean]

Superb day's cricket that, as many have said, lived up to the hype. Australia will have to be disappointed with such a low first innings score, but two early wickets (could so easily have been three - and how nice would it be to have seen the end of Collingwood?) means that the match is poised perfectly for tomorrow.

The big-ups for Monty have been plentiful and well-deserved, he got his chance and he took it, and even as an Aussie I'm really pleased for him. But I reckon massive credit should go to one S Harmison today as well - after having an absolute 'mare over the first two Tests and being written off by most (me included) as mentally gone, he really stepped up today. It wasn't just a performance of talent, which we already know he has. It was, under the circumstances, a performance of genuine guts and heart, which to date had been noticeably missing from his repertoire. Well bowled, Steve.

 

[Alysum]

why were strauss and mcgrath bad decisions ? what did the ball actually do on both ?

 

[social]

yeah thats my view as well, didn't see the first session but certainly apart just before tea when Panesar and Mahmood put in a good 20 minutes in tandem we didn't bowl partiucarly well at all.

That said it's obvious there's a bit in the pitch

Apart from Harmy and sporadic bursts from Mahmood and Monty (who mixed some good with a lot of crap), the Eng bowling was pretty average today

However, results are all that matters and 244 from Oz you'd take any day

Anyway, looks as though there'll definitely be a result so tomorrow should be interesting

 

[SpaceMonkey]

With the spinner bowling so many and also a 5 man attack, its also meant that Flintoff only got 9 overs today. Too often he's been the one to finish the day bowling 20+ overs.

 

[Neil Pickup]

why were strauss and mcgrath bad decisions ? what did the ball actually do on both ?

Generally, to be given out caught, the batsman's supposed to have hit it with his bat.

 

[GIMH]

Lowest form of with that Neil

 

[Scaly piscine]

I'm still trying to figure out how Langer got bowled and how Bell managed to edge a dead straight ball heading over off stump. Anyway nice to see a pitch with some pace and bounce, somewhat irritating that Cook and Bell got out in such predictable ways again. I guess Cook wanted to take over Tresco's weakness of edging wide-ish full balls whilst he was away.

Not really Collingwood's sort of pitch this, but it should be Geraint's type of pitch - so if he can't perform on this there really is no hope for him. I'm expecting at least one of KP and Flintoff to get out stupidly trying to hook or pull a short ball.

 

[Nate]

I'm still trying to figure out how Langer got bowled and how Bell managed to edge a dead straight ball heading over off stump. Anyway nice to see a pitch with some pace and bounce, somewhat irritating that Cook and Bell got out in such predictable ways again. I guess Cook wanted to take over Tresco's weakness of edging wide-ish full balls whilst he was away.

Langer went into his shell before lunch and Bell backed away a touch.

 

[Matt79]

Lord's last year springs to mind, depending on how recently you mean

That's true! The eventual result of the match kind of makes you forget how good England did against the Aussies in the 1st innings at Lords.

 

[_TiGeR-ToWn_]

As I was unable to watch most of the days play today and could only listen to it on the radio i might be a little inaccurate. But did Jones drop 1 or 2 catches today? And was one that of Hussey when he was in early?

Isn't it time that the English team just picks the best keeper , Read, and be done with Jones. If he is in their for his batting, it is nothing to be impressed by and I am sure Read could do just as good a job with the bat as Jones is doing at the moment.

English on top.

 

[Nate]

Jones did indeed mess up a few, but he was also great in some other catches and aspects of `keeping. I don`t believe Read would do a better job tbh.

 

[GIMH]

As I was unable to watch most of the days play today and could only listen to it on the radio i might be a little inaccurate. But did Jones drop 1 or 2 catches today? And was one that of Hussey when he was in early?

Isn't it time that the English team just picks the best keeper , Read, and be done with Jones. If he is in their for his batting, it is nothing to be impressed by and I am sure Read could do just as good a job with the bat as Jones is doing at the moment.

English on top.

When I was watching, I never saw any dropped catches, he did fumble one that Hussey got close to though

All in all I think his keeping's been very good in this series, and every series this year tbh. As his batting's declined, his keeping's improved, unfortunately he doesn't seem to be able to do both well at once.

 

[shortpitched713]

I'm still trying to figure out how Langer got bowled

Must have cried then, what with Panesar's average not edging up to the mid 30s.

 

[Matt79]

He had to have two goes at catching Symonds off Paneser, but edges from full blooded cut shots can be hard when you're standing up, and he got it in the end.

 

[greg]

Must have cried then, what with Panesar's average not edging up to the mid 30s.

lol

 

[Poker Boy]

I hope D Fletcher has learned what Matthew Engel once wrote in Wisden " no one has a monopoly of cricket wisdom" Everyone else in England wanted Monty picked long before now and having not seen the highlights yet I'd like to know - did they show Fletcher's face when Monty took his fifth wicket? A good day, but didn't SA not bowl out Australia for a similar score on this ground last year and end up fighting to save
the game? We need a good first innings lead and it is about time the two Andrews and Jones did something. Colly and KP can't do it ALL!!

 

[Kweek]

good words from Engel, for the rest he's a tool. (development of cricket worldwide)
stoked to see Panesar taking 5, really like a youtube movie from that 5r, so I can learn a bit, wish I could watch more international cricket.

Go England.

 

[Steulen]

Twenty past twelve tonight, Kweek...BBC 2.

I want Hussey and Panesar to both win The Ashes...can someone find me a solution?

 

[silentstriker]

Twenty past twelve tonight, Kweek...BBC 2.

I want Hussey and Panesar to both win The Ashes...can someone find me a solution?

Sure. Let England win them now, and Aussies reclaim them two years later.